Development of a system for improved transportation and handling of full-sized pregnant sows at a metropolitan research facility

The need of investigators for ready access to neonatal pigs that were less expensive than neonatal miniature swine prompted development of a sow transport system and an in-house farrowing program for full-sized sows. Pregnant sows weighed 200 to 250 kg. Offspring of these large so-tvs may be overlooked for use in research because domestic pregnant sows are presumed to be difficult to transport and handle in urban laboratory animal facilities. In 1994, ergonomists analyzed risk factors involved in a sow transport system designed in 1990 and implemented manual material assist devices. The ergonomic interventions improved safety, decreased expenses, and reduced manpower requirements for handling sows during transit. Engineering solutions provided in 1994 facilitated the transport and handling of more than 80 pregnant sows that were at approximately day 100 of gestation.